Exodus 19:1-25

Mosaic Covenant

Three months upon leaving Egypt, the Israelites have come to camp at the foot of Mt. Sinai. While Moses was up in the mountain, God began describing a Covenant He wishes to establish with the Israelites. God prefaced by reminding the people of His plan and guidance in three different instances (v. 4).

1. “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians”-the Israelites witness how God progressively proved to the Egyptians who is in charge, and ultimately brought the Israelites safely away from being chased by the Egyptians.
2. “how I bore you on eagles’ wings”-God cared for the Israelites every step of the way, providing all the food and drink they needed to survive until they reach the Promise Land.
3. “and brought you to myself”-God brought the people here safely to the foot of Mt. Sinai to reveal himself to the Israelites.

As God reminded the Israelites of His guidance for them, God promises to treasure them and set them apart from the other nations as a kingdom of priests and holy nation, if they choose to obey Him (v. 5-6). Notice the language used here was not a covenant commanded by God for the Israelites to obey Him, but the Israelites had the choice not to take to offer as it was written “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant…” (v. 5). This, if agreed upon, would be the Mosaic Covenant. The Mosaic Covenant is now built upon the previous covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant (father of all nations, God will bless those who blesses your family/Israelites), which was built upon the Noahic Covenant (never to destroy humanity with water). Later, the Davidic Covenant (the Messiah will come from David’s line) will build upon the Mosaic Covenant, and ultimately Jesus will be the New Covenant that fulfill and replace these covenants.

Fortunately, the people agreed to the terms of the Mosaic Covenant; not only did the peoples’ representative (elders, v. 7) say the people agreed, it was a unanimous agreement across the people (v. 7-8).

Then through Moses, God told the people to spend two days to consecrate, or cleanse themselves, in preparation to meet the Lord on the third day (v. 9-11). Furthermore, God repeatedly warned the people not to approach the mountain too closely (v. 12, 13, 21, 22, 24). God revealed Himself to the Israelites in the form of thick cloud (similar form to the way God lead them during the day), smoke, and loud noises (v. 16, 18, 19).

Critical Thinking and Application

God reminded the people of His guidance in various ways and ask them if they would trust Him even more from that point on. Examine your own life, in what ways have God guided you through difficulties? What was your response afterwards?

God brought the people of Israel together as a nation, established as a kingdom of priests and holy nation, and treasured them dearly. By treasuring the nation of Israel did not mean the Israelites now have the power to do anything they want since God has got their back. Rather, God used them as the people to make God Himself known to the rest of the world, and they hold the responsibility to share God’s glory to other nations as kingdom of priests; they were set apart as a nation with the mission to make God known and be an example of a God-fearing nation. In some ways, this sets a foundation of why you and I can be saved today by this God of Israel even though we are not part of the Israelites. Now we similarly carry the responsibility of being the “priests” in the kingdom of God by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-21) under the New Covenant; how could you be an example to others who have yet believed in Jesus Christ?

God commanded the Israelites to consecrate/cleanse themselves for two full days before meeting Him in person. While we are not bounded by the strict “doing” aspect of this passage as a requirement needed to see God anymore, how have you been preparing your heart before you go before the throne of God?          —- Isaac Chang

Exodus 17:1-16; 18:1-27

Is the Lord among us or not?

In chapter 17-18, there are three developing events for preparing Israelites to be a country of God’s people on the promising land:

– Lack of water: basic need vs God Himself

It’s a common theme in the desert – people complain and God patiently provides.
May we all be reminded that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 & Deut. 8:3). Today, we have the Word with us (Emmanuel) and are connected to the source of living water; though the test of instant gratification exists, we have the assurance to overcome and find peace and satisfaction in Him.

– First battle/ Won over the Amalekites: military power vs God Himself

‘Some trust in chariots and some horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.’ (Psalm 20:7). The first battle gave the Israelites a lesson of faith – trust in the Lord and strengthen each other in Him. We ought to do the same as Christian soldiers.

– Shaping the public administration system: setting orders and qualification of public services for God’s people

Liberated from slavery, Israelites had to learn to be an effective and efficient God’s people. A new system needs to be established and God’s people need to work/ serve in an orderly way. The qualifications of the public servants have been set: fear God, trustworthy, hate dishonest gain. We do, need to unlearn and relearn the way we live now that we are New People, of His. May we all be his vessels and be of good use to establish His kingdom.

Lord, please help us to recognize your presence in our lives, help us to know you better and remain in you. May all the glory, honor, and praises go to you and you alone! Amen.             —- Ivy Lin

 

 

 

 

Exodus 16:1-35

Manna and Quail

The Israelites had been rescued by God from bondage in Egypt and were now on the journey of freedom to Canaan (The Promised Land). Trials were a part of this journey and an opportunity to trust God to provide.   We experience the same when we choose to follow Jesus Christ.  There will be and are many trials and opportunities to trust our Lord.  As Pastor said yesterday, it is part of the sanctification process.

Yesterday we read about the first trial –  thirst and the bitter water at the spring.  God cleansed the water and promised the Israelites His care and protection if they would listen to and obey Him.  In chapter 16, we see the second trial – hunger and the lack of food.  Instead of asking God for provision and trusting Him to provide as he had done in the past, the Israelites again grumbled against God, Moses and Aaron.  Complaining displays a lack of trust in God and how He has ordered our lives.  The complaints of the people revealed short memories and weak faith.  Our grumbling does the same.

God provided the quail in the evenings and the Manna every morning except the Sabbath, when He provided a double portion the day before.  Manna ‘was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey’.  People had never seen such bread and ‘Manna’ in Hebrew means “What is it?’.  Manna continued to be provided by God for the people 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 40 years.  Forty years later, on the 15th day of the first month, the people ate food grown in the land of Canaan and, on the following day, the manna stopped.

Manna is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the Israelites were to place a jar of manna before the Lord in front of the Ark of the Covenant.  Neither the Tabernacle nor the Ark of the Covenant had been built at this point, but God provided direction for their future.  In Matthew 4:4, when Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation, He quotes partly from Deuteronomy 8:2-3: ‘² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.’ (Jesus quoted the bold, italicized words.)

Manna is a symbol of God’s Word.  It was to teach the people to live by the Word of God and not by bread alone as we see in Dueteromony 8, Matthew 4 and Luke 4.

Manna was God’s supernatural gift.  It was not natural or man-made. It was a supernatural gift of God, just as the scriptures are.  The Bible is God’s book, not a human production.  It always points to Jesus and the attributes of God.

Manna was not something earned by humans – God freely gave it.  But the people did have to gather it.  As with God’s Word – to benefit from the Bible, we must study it diligently for ourselves.

Manna was gathered daily each morning.  We need to study the Word daily as well.  And, as the Israelites had to daily EAT the gathered manna to benefit from God’s provision, we too must apply the Word of God daily.  We take what we have learned from our study and apply it to living.

Manna never failed the people and the Word of God will never fail us.  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Jesus promises us in Matthew 24:35.

Manna points us to the Lord Jesus Christ.  In John 6:32-35, Jesus tells us that the true bread of heaven gives life to the world and Jesus declares ‘I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’

Praise God for His Son Jesus, who sustains our life.  If you have not asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life and your Savior from sin, please invite Him into your life today.            —- Mary Mauderer

出埃及記15:1-27

從此刻起，以色列民正式從為奴之家──埃及脫離了。
一個從兩河流域來的希伯來（大河那邊來的）人，現在成為耶和華的子民──以色列人。

十個神蹟的災難，讓以色列民認識了與自己先祖亞伯拉罕立約的神實在是獨一真神，埃及人也不得不承認耶和華是眾神之上的神。

出了埃及，摩西作了第一首頌讚詩，稱頌神說：「耶和華啊，眾神之中，誰能像祢？誰能像祢至聖至榮，可頌可畏，施行奇事？」（15:11）
又說：「耶和華是我的力量，我的詩歌，也成了我的拯救。這是我的神，我要讚美祂，是我父親的神，我要尊崇祂。」（15:2,）

神不願意以色列人再回到為奴之家，因此，捨近求遠，讓以色列民繞道，走紅海與曠野的路（出13:17, 18）。
紅海，神使埃及軍隊淹滅，隔斷了以色列人與埃及的關係。
曠野，神讓以色列人脫離世俗的享樂，除了神以外，別無所有；有了神，別無所求。

「祢憑慈愛領了祢所贖的百姓；祢憑能力引他們到了祢的聖所。」（15:13）
神說，我是天下的耶和華……我要將我的百姓和你（埃及）的百姓分別出來。（8:22）……耶和華是將埃及人和以色列人分別出來。（11:7）
「分別為聖」、「歸神為聖」是屬神的人所必須遵循的。
基督已經救贖了我們，已經在我們身上斷開罪權的鎖鏈，已經把我們從罪惡的為奴之地釋放出來，已經賜給我們新生命，就是出黑暗、入光明的生命，我們就應該要謹守主的誡命，追求成聖的生命。

以色列人剛出埃及，進入曠野，到了瑪拉，只有苦水。以色列人立刻抱怨。但神憐憫自己的百姓，醫治了水，把水變甜。
基督徒在成聖的道路上，努力追求分別為聖的生命，卻不斷地遇到瑪拉苦水的試探。不要抱怨，不要灰心，不要偏離，總要專心依靠主。
主說：「你若留意聽耶和華你神的話，又行我眼中看為正的事，留心聽我的誡命，守我一切的律例，我就不將所加與埃及人的疾病加在你身上，因為我耶和華是醫治你的。」

耶和華拉法Jehovah Rapha，耶和華醫治！（15:26）
堅持依靠主，堅定信心，遵行主的旨意，謹守主的誡命，主會為我們開道路，引領我們進到以琳，豐盛生命的泉源之地。         —- Solomon Liu

出埃及记14:1-31

前文提到，埃及法老在被耶和华神用10次大灾打击之后，终于十分不情愿地允许以色列民离开埃及。然而正如耶和华神预言的那样，法老很快就后悔了。
以色列民此时处境极其危险。前有红海挡路，后有埃及军兵追赶。百姓开始恐慌，并大发怨言，然而摩西对上帝有信心。
他宣告“不要惧怕，耶和华必为你征战。” 耶和华神派云柱和神的使者保护以色列民，使他们可以继续前进，上帝又籍摩西的杖行使伟大的神迹，使百姓能够走在海里如同走干地，然而，当埃及军兵下海时，海水又流回来，使埃及人全军覆灭。

读了本章，让我想到，我们一遇困难也像以色列民一样，常常容易灰心丧气，怨天尤人。
求神让我们牢记：我们是他的孩子，他永远都不会撇弃我们，他一定会用他大能的膀臂拯救我们。所以，我们当一无挂虑，坚定不移地走天路。            —- Jenny Yang

诗篇16:1-11; 出埃及记13:1-22

终于出了埃及。经过一番与法老的“拉拉扯扯”——
“我要走！”
“我不让你走”
“你不让我走神就降灾给你”
“啊啊好好让你走……不行我就不让！”
“看神的厉害！”
……
十灾过后，失去了长子的法老与埃及人与埃及动物们在哀嚎中终于放了手，以色列人终于出了埃及。（上述对话非出自圣经原文，乃是戏剧性想象。）

刚刚逃出生天的以色列人们迎来的神第一个口谕，不是叫他们快跑逃离埃及人的追兵，甚至也不是开个派对庆祝一下或是理所应当地向神献上赞美感谢。
神说：“以色列中凡头生的，无论是人是牲畜，都是我的，要分别为圣归我。”
用世俗的眼光看，好像是一场交易，我帮了你，现在你要付代价。而且是很高很高的代价——一切头生的。然而，这一场交易却与世俗的你来我往截然不同。
生活中有很多时刻好像我们都会面对类似的情景，神说，你要献上你最好的。不管是你的时间、精力、能力才干、金钱……我要你最好的。
神总是想要我们心甘情愿献上最好的，而献上最好的与我们而言，不是损失，恰恰是收获。不是缺憾，恰恰是完满。

诗篇十六篇说，“耶和华是我的产业，是我杯中的份；我所得的，你为我持守。”又说，“我将耶和华常摆在我面前，因他在我右边，我便不至摇动。”，甚至说“你必将生命的道路指示我。在你面前有满足的喜乐；在你右手中有永远的福乐。”

无比尊贵荣耀的神不惜让自己看起来像一个絮絮叨叨的老父亲，一遍一遍用祂的话语劝勉告诫我们，祂才是我们真正的、不能失去的产业；祂是最好的，有了祂我们在任何环境中都不至摇动；因着祂我们可以找到真实的生命，得到永远的满足与福乐……拥有神，胜过一切。
而如果我们不放手“自己以为最好的”——不论是富有、权势、美貌、子女、自我、安逸的生活——就无法单纯的，完全的经历神同在的美好与甘甜。

我很喜欢Tim Keller说的一句话：you don’t realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.
继续读出埃及记十三章，觉得神真是细心体贴得不得了。
知道人的软弱，所以千叮咛万嘱咐祂的诫命，同一章内还两次告诫以色列人要向孩子们传承下去，连对儿子们说什么都帮以色列人想好了，好像生怕以色列人一不小心嘴一滑给说歪了说漏了一样（同时也再次强调了信仰教育的重要性！）。又恐怕以色列人走错了路心里软弱打退堂鼓所以安排别的路线，白天云柱夜晚火柱，我想再视力不好的人都难以走丢……

高高在上的神啊，怎么愿意为微不足道的罪人们做到这个地步？
每逢细细思想神的作为，真是不得已要赞美祂的慈爱与信实。
有这样一位神接管我们的生命，也真是没有什么不可以献上给祂的。
求神赐给我们充足的信心，让我们把自己最好的都献给祂，得着上好的福分，就是主耶稣自己。            —- Yona Zhang

Exodus 12:1-51

The final plague: the death of the first-born. This time, Pharaoh surrendered and let the Israelites go. God established the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread to commemorate the greatest “exodus” from the land of slavery.

One thing that catches my attention in this passage is that the Israelites had to eat the Passover feast in haste. Obviously, one of the reasons is that the Israelites had to leave Egypt in a hurry before Pharaoh changed his mind.  However, there might be another reason God wanted them to eat the meal in haste. God did not want the Israelites to recall Egypt with nostalgia. The Israelites might not bear to part with their Egyptian friends, their properties, food…etc.  But Almighty God wanted the Israelites to “quit” Egypt and set out to the promise land in haste. No turning back!

A lot of time, God wants to liberate us from the slavery of sins (pornography, gamble, fame, title…etc.). Sadly, we still try to find different excuses to remain slaves to sins.  Therefore, God offers us a clear-cut solution: Leave the land of slavery (temptation) in haste. Do not give any reasons to nostalgic in sins. One more click on a dark website, one more ticket in the lottery, and one more causal date may seem innocent and harmless. We need to run away immediately from those temptations before we sin. In James 1:14-15 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. The, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, give birth to death.

We cannot avoid temptation. When temptation comes; the best way for Christians to do is to put on the best sneakers and run from it. Do not open any doors to let temptations growing into sins.          —- Alan Yam

 

Exodus 10:1-29; 11:1-10

As the hearts of Egyptians hardened, the plagues were getting more harsh. The last three plagues recorded in Exodus 10-11 – the locusts, the darkness, and on the firstborn – all left Egyptians hopeless and helpless. The plague of locusts made their land barren; the plague of darkness made their daily life barren; the plague on the first born made their future barren. All resulted from their hardened hearts.

Sadly enough, Pharaoh still latched onto his easy/accessible slavery labor force and relied on schemes and lip services to make the Israelites stay. No matter what efforts Pharaoh made, as long as he was not on the same side of God, the course of history still followed the Lord’s command. It took unprecedented costly incidences to deliver the Israelites from over four hundred years’ slavery, and then the Egyptians would know that He is the Lord. (Exodus 7:5)

When we were still sinners, sin and its consequences made us barren – hopeless and helpless. However, there’s One who demonstrated God’s love and paid even more unprecedented costly price to save us from devastation (Romans 5:8). Salvation was achieved by our Lord Jesus’ Christ being the atonement – He died for our sin so that we may live and have a hope for future. All glory to Him and praise the Lord that we received a new heart that is no longer hardened (Ezekiel 36:26).

Lord, Thank you for giving us Jesus and allowing us to know you. Please help us study and obey your words, practice our faith and lead a life that is pleasing to you. Amen.          —- Ivy Lin

Exodus 9:1-35

In chapter 9 we see plagues five, six and seven.  The fifth plague was against the domestic animals of Egypt; while the Hebrews’ livestock was spared.  The Egyptians worshiped many animals, and the bull god was very popular as was the cow goddess of fertility.  This bull god worship profoundly affected the Israelites and we will see them return to this idol worship when they thought Moses was lost on Mount Sinai while meeting with God and, again, in 1 Kings 12:26-30.

Clearly, we can see from this fifth plague that the animal gods of Egypt could not save the Egyptian livestock.  The death of these domestic animals now moved the plagues from irritation to seriously affecting the people’s livelihood.  But Pharaoh’s heart was unyielding and he would not let the Hebrews leave.

The sixth plague advanced from affliction of animals to the affliction of people.  When Moses threw soot from a furnace into the air, it became dust that caused boils to break out on the Egyptians.  It is very interesting to know that the Egyptian priests would sprinkle the ashes from idol sacrifices into the air above the worshippers.  When the ashes fell on the people, they counted it a blessing.  NOW – ashes were bringing a curse.  These boils defied the Egyptian priests.  The boils on their bodies prevented them from even standing before Moses and they could definitely not offer deity sacrifices for the Egyptians and sprinkle ashes.  And the idol ‘healing’ gods of the Egyptians were powerless as well.  WOW – the one true GOD continued to reveal the uselessness and fallaciousness of Egypt’s idols  Yet, Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites.

The seventh plague of thunder,  hail and lighting was the first of four directed against the Egyptian gods and goddesses of the sky.  It does not hail in Egypt and there is very little rain.  The Bible says this storm was the worst in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation.  But, it did not hail in Goshen, where the Israelites were.  The hail stuck down everything in the fields – people, animals that had been acquired since the 5th plague and plant and tree growth.

It seems that some of Pharaoh’s officials began to fear the Word of the Lord and hurried to put the slaves and animals inside before the storm.  Even Pharaoh seemed to grasp this and admitted he and the people had sinned and that the LORD was right.  But after Moses left Pharaoh and the Lord stopped the plague, Pharaoh did not let the Hebrews go.

Pharaoh and the most of the Egyptian people refused to believe in the one true God.  We too, have false gods to fight today.  When we ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life and our Savior from any thought, word or deed that is contrary to His will, we come to know Him.  We find Him all-powerful, all-wise and full of goodness and grace.  He gives us the strength and desire to fight the idols that tempt us in our life.            —- Mary Mauderer